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To expect 15 year old DD to share a room with the family on holiday?

316 replies

NotTonightDeidre · 23/07/2026 19:07

It's actually is DH being unreasonable. He thinks DD (15) should be happy to share a room with us all (me, him, DD2).

She doesn't want to share a room with us (she will share with me & sister, not her dad).

I can see where she's coming from but DH doesn't see her p.o.v.

OP posts:
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Whatafustercluck · 29/07/2026 09:49

I'd always base it on my dc's feelings at that age. I wasn't bothered about sharing a room with my parents on short city breaks at that age, but others would be. Then 8yo dd and then 14yo ds were happy to share a room for our main holiday last year. This year, their things will occupy the same space but ds will sleep in the living room (we couldn't get an affordable 3 bed). Dd would have still been happy to share, but ds is now that bit older, which i get. Really important to respect teenagers' feelings about privacy and accommodate them wherever possible.

Savvysix1984 · 29/07/2026 09:42

San8 · 25/07/2026 20:46

A tendency to leer??
Id be seriously questioning the “Dads” you have formed this opinion of!

I know if I caught my dh ‘leering’ at my teenage dd he wouldn’t be my husband anymore.

Tapoopoo · 29/07/2026 07:26

DD is almost 16 and we've always used family rooms. Dad always goes for a coffee or something out of the room while we are getting ready and vice versa.

But she's grown up using hostels and the like (we use family rooms, not dormitories) so I guess people sharing rooms is just normal for her.

I think the difference is that DD doesn't mind. If she did (and she'd let us know!) then we would look at alternatives.

Tapoopoo · 29/07/2026 07:13

DD is almost 16 and we've always used family rooms.

Dad always goes for a coffee or something out of the room while we are getting ready and vice versa.

I think the difference is that DD doesn't mind. If she did (and she'd let us know!) then we wouldn't.

San8 · 26/07/2026 22:29

FloozyMcGee · 26/07/2026 19:36

I'm glad you would! Many don't. In addition to my two, I see many in my job riding along with police. Leer is really quite the least of it. I'm sure you're aware this exists, but I think most people think, "not in my home!" "not my husband!" "I never saw it coming!" when in fact their daughters (like this one, perhaps) were sending messages all along.

Sounds horrific but I understand if you come across it in work. I guess when you said what dads ‘tend to do’ it implied it was a general phenomenon as opposed to a revolting minority. I am sure that most dads would find the concept at leering at one’s daughter as abhorrent as me.

FloozyMcGee · 26/07/2026 19:36

San8 · 25/07/2026 20:46

A tendency to leer??
Id be seriously questioning the “Dads” you have formed this opinion of!

I'm glad you would! Many don't. In addition to my two, I see many in my job riding along with police. Leer is really quite the least of it. I'm sure you're aware this exists, but I think most people think, "not in my home!" "not my husband!" "I never saw it coming!" when in fact their daughters (like this one, perhaps) were sending messages all along.

3xmonsters · 25/07/2026 20:52

Completely fine!

San8 · 25/07/2026 20:46

FloozyMcGee · 25/07/2026 18:45

I'd seriously be looking into why she doesn't want to share a room with him. She may have a very good reason not to...
Additionally, when I was 14 my mother remarried and we moved from one place 1200 miles away by car. Half way we stopped and got a hotel--one room. They pawed each other all night! I was mortified.

Additionally, she may just need to have a place she can get away to during the day.

Or, it could be more. Many dads have a tendency to leer, amazed at their daughter's changing body. He may and not know it, or it may be more nefarious.

Whether she gives you a reason, or whether you approve of her reason, I'd say honor her wishes. If you can't afford a second room, give her the option to stay home or with a trusted family.

A tendency to leer??
Id be seriously questioning the “Dads” you have formed this opinion of!

San8 · 25/07/2026 20:35

It’s really all about the individual. We just had 2 weeks holiday touring California and we all shared a big family room in every location with 2 kings and a sofa bed. Boys are 19,17, daughter 16. Pretty natural just to change in bathroom . DD either slept on her own or with mum or dad. Nothing uncomfortable or awkward in the slightest for us, families have been cohabiting like this for thousands of years.

Throwaway65131 · 25/07/2026 20:34

Is there something concerning about her dad?

I may be in my 40s now but I always shared a hotel room with my parents until I was in my 20s - much cheaper than having to pay for a whole room all to myself (plus single supplement!). I’d probably only get my own room now because my back doesn’t thank me sleeping on a sofa bed thing and it’s easier than 3 adults getting in each others way trying to get ready in a morning. Up until a few years ago my father and I used to holiday together (to visit a shared hobby) and although we’d more often than not book a self catering place where we’d have our own rooms, we’d often have time tagged on the beginning or end in a hotel and share a room either with two queen beds or twin beds, didn’t seem to make much sense paying more than double for a room each!
15 is still a child and seems too young to have their own room on their own in a hotel to me, I’d think then you’d have to stay with her for safety reasons.
If on the other hand it’s own room in a house or apartment that absolutely makes sense, not sure why you’d all cram into one room then.

4t4 · 25/07/2026 19:46

It’s all dependent on the child in question really. If she doesn’t want to share with her dad then she shouldn’t be made to. I have a boy and girl and last year they were 19/17 and they were happy to share a room with me. Me and ds had to share the bed and dd had to sleep on a kid’s bed (she’s much smaller than me or ds). Dd 17/18 shared a hotel room with DH on another trip that just they went on a couple of times.

None of us mind any of this, if anyone wishes to get changed and others not to see, they just say hey turn your back whilst I change and the relevant people will turn their backs.

But if your dd minds, then you’ll have to arrange privacy for her.

ChalkOutlines · 25/07/2026 19:40

Cromwell1905 · 25/07/2026 18:56

My DD (16) shares rooms and cabins on cruise with Dw and me, she is happy and if we did not do this she would not have the amazing holidays she has

Your daughter is happy to share , and that’s ok and pretty normal. Some teens wouldn’t and that’s also ok and pretty normal.

The real question is if she really hated it , to the point that she’d rather stay at home and miss out , would you at least listen and possibly look at alternatives or just shut her down, stay home then?

BringBackCatsEyes · 25/07/2026 19:37

Cromwell1905 · 25/07/2026 18:56

My DD (16) shares rooms and cabins on cruise with Dw and me, she is happy and if we did not do this she would not have the amazing holidays she has

My great sons sharing with me on holiday would mean none of us had amazing holidays.
Just because posters are saying their teenagers are fine with out does not mean OP's teenager should be. A 15 yo girl not wanting to share a room with her Dad isn't such a strange thing to understand. We'd never expect them to share at home, there is some sort of 'holiday mode' where we can just change how we feel.

Cromwell1905 · 25/07/2026 18:56

My DD (16) shares rooms and cabins on cruise with Dw and me, she is happy and if we did not do this she would not have the amazing holidays she has

FloozyMcGee · 25/07/2026 18:45

I'd seriously be looking into why she doesn't want to share a room with him. She may have a very good reason not to...
Additionally, when I was 14 my mother remarried and we moved from one place 1200 miles away by car. Half way we stopped and got a hotel--one room. They pawed each other all night! I was mortified.

Additionally, she may just need to have a place she can get away to during the day.

Or, it could be more. Many dads have a tendency to leer, amazed at their daughter's changing body. He may and not know it, or it may be more nefarious.

Whether she gives you a reason, or whether you approve of her reason, I'd say honor her wishes. If you can't afford a second room, give her the option to stay home or with a trusted family.

Wingingit73 · 25/07/2026 18:44

Its not ideal. Id look for a 1 bed apartment. Id dad cant respect her need for privacy thats a problem.

Vulpini · 25/07/2026 18:37

NotTonightDeidre · 23/07/2026 19:07

It's actually is DH being unreasonable. He thinks DD (15) should be happy to share a room with us all (me, him, DD2).

She doesn't want to share a room with us (she will share with me & sister, not her dad).

I can see where she's coming from but DH doesn't see her p.o.v.

We often share a room the three of us - me my husband and our DS(15). If we’re in a villa or apartment for example he has his own room but in a hotel we just share a triple room, he finds it fun apparently! We travel a lot and it can get expensive, (especially this year in Japan) so it’s cheaper to share!

lanthanum · 25/07/2026 18:15

For a week's holiday, DD has usually had her own room. For an overnight trip, or on the way there/back, she's always been fine about sharing (now adult). It's one thing doing the change-in the bathroom thing for one night, and another having no privacy for a week.

ChalkOutlines · 25/07/2026 18:06

DraigCymraeg · 25/07/2026 18:02

Who is paying for the trip? Not her? Then tough.

So if OP is paying for the holiday she gets the final say right? Even if that’s accommodating the daughter?Grin

DraigCymraeg · 25/07/2026 18:02

NotTonightDeidre · 23/07/2026 19:07

It's actually is DH being unreasonable. He thinks DD (15) should be happy to share a room with us all (me, him, DD2).

She doesn't want to share a room with us (she will share with me & sister, not her dad).

I can see where she's coming from but DH doesn't see her p.o.v.

Who is paying for the trip? Not her? Then tough.

ChalkOutlines · 24/07/2026 23:06

Timeforachange26 · 24/07/2026 22:59

In the school holidays?? That would be interesting if so. I know someone who would go for that

we go back on the 3rd so I did 25th august -september 1st as we normally go just for one week. I’m looking at holidays for us as well, i didn’t just do it for this thread. 😬

Aparthotels/bungalows come around the 1900ish mark as well.

Timeforachange26 · 24/07/2026 22:59

ChalkOutlines · 24/07/2026 22:58

Just had a nosey to distract myself from other stuff. Spain all inclusive for 4 1 room 1700ish , 2 rooms (same hotel, flights etc) 1900ish. So no, adding an extra room isn’t another 1k.

In the school holidays?? That would be interesting if so. I know someone who would go for that

ChalkOutlines · 24/07/2026 22:58

Timeforachange26 · 24/07/2026 21:13

Hmm I'm sure the 15 year old will be happy in Blackpool in the pissing rain while all their mates are going abroad

I went to NYC with my ex, DD14 Ds5 . We were in one room. Was DDs dream trip I got cheap flights for. If id had to pay for a second room then we wouldn't have been able to afford the new York pass that got us into the attractions.

So shed had been to new York but not been able to go in anything due to having a separate room

Same as I took the girls to an all inclusive they wanted to go to. We shared a room no issue. They were 14 and 11 at the time. Again that holiday was their choice after they had been taken to a caravan in sheerness as a " treat" by their Nan ( where the girls had their own rooms in the caravan,) I'm pretty sure they preferred being in the sun and sharing a room

As for going from different times of year, yeah if you pull them out of school and get fined

Edited

Just had a nosey to distract myself from other stuff. Spain all inclusive for 4 1 room 1700ish , 2 rooms (same hotel, flights etc) 1900ish. So no, adding an extra room isn’t another 1k.

OhBettyCalmDown · 24/07/2026 21:56

Timeforachange26 · 24/07/2026 21:13

Hmm I'm sure the 15 year old will be happy in Blackpool in the pissing rain while all their mates are going abroad

I went to NYC with my ex, DD14 Ds5 . We were in one room. Was DDs dream trip I got cheap flights for. If id had to pay for a second room then we wouldn't have been able to afford the new York pass that got us into the attractions.

So shed had been to new York but not been able to go in anything due to having a separate room

Same as I took the girls to an all inclusive they wanted to go to. We shared a room no issue. They were 14 and 11 at the time. Again that holiday was their choice after they had been taken to a caravan in sheerness as a " treat" by their Nan ( where the girls had their own rooms in the caravan,) I'm pretty sure they preferred being in the sun and sharing a room

As for going from different times of year, yeah if you pull them out of school and get fined

Edited

Why is the only other option Blackpool
in the rain? You’re taking it from one extreme to the other and acting like there are no options in between. If you have the budget for a holiday abroad sharing a room, then you can find an alternative abroad that suits everyone if you’re actually willing to look.

As for New York, it was your DDs dream trip and she also doesn’t mind sharing a room. That’s absolutely fine. I don’t have an issue with people sharing rooms if they’re all happy too do it. My issue is booking a family holiday and dismissing one persons opinion rather than have a discussion and trying find a compromise that fits everyone. I just can’t imaging treating my child that way. It’s more important to my DH and I that we all actually enjoy the experience together rather than being so precious over specific destination or accommodation type that we’d be willing to leave a child at home.

As for the school fines kids get 13 weeks off a year so no I don’t buy that there are no other dates to be booked either.

Tickingcrocodile · 24/07/2026 21:45

1 night in a hotel for an overnight trip is fine. A longer holiday I can totally see why teens want their privacy. We have always done self-catering so everyone can have their own rooms. France is great value for spacious holiday accommodation.